Rail liner



y 1969 o. J. BRIDENSTINE 3,456,808

RAIL LINER Filed Nov. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. O. J. BRIDENSTINE A TTORNEYS July 22, 1969 o, J. BRIDENSTINE 3,456,808

RAIL LINER Filed Nov. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. O.J. BRI DENSTIN E A r TORNE VS United States Patent 3,456,808 RAIL LINER Orville J. Bridenstine, Bartlesville, 0kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,960 Int. Cl. A47f /00 US. Cl. 211-134 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A resilient liner member which is formed with a transverse section of greater peripheral distance than the straight line distance between points on either extremity of the section is provided with marginal edges formed to hook over the extremities of a similarly shaped .rail member.

In one aspect this invention relates to rail assemblies in shelf structures. In another aspect this invention relates to liner members for rail assemblies. In another aspect this invention relates to a method of installing a liner on a rail.

In many uses of shelf structures, the shelf unit is slidably supported on rail members so that the unit may be moved for easy loading, removal, or inspection of the shelved items. In some instances the weight of the shelving unit combined with the weight of the shelved items provides sufificient friction with the rail members to interfere with the sliding motion of the shelf unit. Some materials of shelf construction are subject to abrasion during sliding contact, resulting in an oxidation residue which is objectionable to the one handling the shelf unit. This oxidation residue is especially objectionable in hospitals, the food industry, and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rail assembly in shelf structures which resists abrasion.

Another object is to provide a longitudinal bearing surface in rail assemblies.

Another object is to provide a rail liner which can be readily installed on existing rail assemblies in shelf structures.

Other objects will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification, the drawings, and the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of the liner element of this invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the invention placed in a shelf structure.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

According to the invention, a rail member formed with a transverse section of greater peripheral distance than the straight line distance between points on either extremity of the section is provided with a similarly shaped resilient liner member which has marginal edges formed to hook over the extremities of the rail member.

Further in accordance with the invention, the liner member has a roughened inner surface to provide greater frictional contact with the rail member and a smooth outer surface for contact with a slidable shelf unit.

Further in accordance with the invention, the resilient liner member is installed on a rail member by securing one hooked portion of the liner member over the corre sponding edge of the rail member and while holding that portion in place, tensioning the liner member so that 3,456,808 Patented July 22, 1969 the other hooked portion can be fitted over its corresponding edge of the rail member.

The liner member can be of any suitable cross section which is of greater peripheral distance than the straight line distance between points on either extremity of the rail member to which the liner member is adapted. For example, the rail and liner member may be of arcuate, right angle, obtuse angle or acute angle transverse section.

The liner member can be fabricated from any suitable resilient material which permits the hook elements to be snapped into place so as to grip the rail member. It is preferred to fabricate the liner member from a thermoplastic, such as polyolefin polymers and copolymers, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polyethylene-butene copolymers and blends thereof, which has a high resistance to abrasion and good lubricity. By utilizing a thermoplastic in a metal shelf unit the oxidation residue often found on the contact area of the slidable shelf unit is eliminated.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the liner member 10 is shown as having a substantially right angle transverse cross section 11 with marginal edges 12 and 13 lapped over and back to form hooks to grip a rail member and to prevent relative transverse motion between the liner and the rail member.

FIGURE 2 illustrates liner member 10 in place over the bearing surfaces of rail members which are of substantially right angle transverse cross section and which are attached to vertical supports 21. A slidable shelf unit 22 is supported on rails 20 and bears on liner members 10 for easy sliding movement.

Installation of rail liner 10 on rail 20 is accomplished by fitting the hooked edge 12 over the marginal edge of rail 20 and while holding edge 12 in place, tensioning liner member '10 so that edge 13 can be fitted over the other edge of rail 20. When worn, the rail liner may be snapped off in the same manner and replaced. Any suit able means can be used to eliminate relative longitudinal motion between the liner and the rail. It is preferred to form cut-out portions in edge 13 of liner 10', as shown in FIGURE 2, to fit against and around supports 21 and thus limit longitudinal motion. The rail liner 10 can be fabricated with such a cut-out portion or the necessary cutting can be done with simple hand hools during installation.

FIGURE 3 depicts rail liner having an obtuse angled transverse section 31 with marginal edges 32 and 33 lapped over and back to grip a rail member.

FIGURE 4 illustrates rail liner as having an acute angled transverse section 41 with hooked marginal edges 42 and 43.

FIGURE 5 shows rail liner with an arcuate-shaped transverse section 51 and hooked marginal edges 52 and 53.

Use of the replaceable liner member of this invention reduces friction between slidable shelf units and rail members, eliminates objectionable oxidation residue and extends the useful life of metal shelf elements which are often expensive to replace.

Reasonable variations and modifications are within the scope of this invention which sets forth a novel rail liner and method for attaching the same to rail members in shelf structures.

That which is claimed is:

1. A snap-on liner for the bearing surface of a rail member in a shelf structure, said liner comprising: a resilient thermoplastic liner member having a transverse section of greater peripheral distance than the straight line distance between points on either extremity of said section; one extremity of said section terminating along a marginal edge portion thereof in a first hook portion turned back on itself; and the other extremity of said section terminating along the opposite other marginal edge portion thereof in a second hook portion turned back on itself; said first and second hook portions being adapted'to fit over and grip the edges of a rail member having a transverse section shaped similar to that of said liner member, said liner forming a bearing surface for said rail member and at least one of said marginal edge portions of said liner being provided with at least one cut-out recess adapted to engage a support member of said shelf structure.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said transverse section comprises a substantially right angle transverse section.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said transverse'section comprises an obtuse angle transverse section.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said transverse section comprises an acute angle transverse section.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said transverse section comprises an arcuate-shaped transverse section.

6. The'article of claim 1' wherein said liner member has a roughened inner surface contacting said rail member and a smooth outer surface for contact with a slidable shelf unit.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein said liner member is fabricated from polyethylene or polypropylene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1965 Great Britain. RoY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner 

